Rhodes+Brito Architects Earn three-year Continuing Services Contract to Provide Architectural Services to City of Oviedo

ORLANDO, Fla., -- Rhodes+Brito Architects in Orlando was recently awarded a three-year Continuing Services Contract from the City of Oviedo in Seminole County. Ruffin Rhodes, co-founder and partner at Rhodes+Brito Architects, said the firm will provide design, engineering and project coordination services on a per-project basis as the city requests. Projects covered under continuing services contracts are typically small in scope and often involve renovations or planning studies, Rhodes said. The City of Oviedo contract stipulates a $2 million cap. About Rhodes+Brito Architects Rhodes+Brito, which opened in Orlando in 1996, currently employs a staff of 20, including eight registered architects. The firm has exceptional experience providing architectural services to municipal government agencies.

Legends Golf Club Welcoming New and Returning Members for 2014 Calendar Year, Also Now Offering a Seasonal Membership

CLERMONT, Fla. --- Legends Golf Club recently announced that 2014 Membership Information is now available and, for the first time, Legends will offer a Seasonal Membership. Jay Scruggs, General Manager at Legends Golf Club, said he’s very excited about the upcoming year and the prospect of growing the course’s membership. As part of that initiative, the Seasonal Membership option is being offered under Celebration Golf Management, Scruggs added. “Golf Membership is, and has always been, an integral part of our course. Each year we receive incredibly positive feedback from our members. Last year we expanded on our offerings by adding an Executive Membership. This year, we’ve taken it a step further by adding a Seasonal Membership,” Scruggs said. Legends Golf Club also offers a Junior Membership, as well as an annual Driving Range Pass and an Annual Twilight Pass. Scruggs said, “Each year we host several tournaments and events for our Membership. There’s something for everyone, and we feel that we now have the most appealing and comprehensive Membership options in the area.” For more information regarding Memberships, please contact the course. Visit www.cgmgolfproperties.com.

Royal Oak Homes Posts $65 Million in New Home Sales in 2013

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Royal Oak Homes ended the year with 325 homes sold in seven communities for a dollar volume of $65 million. Matt Orosz, co-president of Royal Oak Homes, said last year the Baldwin Park based company sold 199 homes in five communities. In 2014, Royal Oak Homes will continue its growth by offering its first town home community in Kissimmee at Emerald Lake with 3-4bedroom town homes that will range from 1,500 square feet of living area to 1,700 square feet, priced from the low to mid 100s. Orosz said the home builder will introduce two new floor plans— the Maxwell with 2,000 square feet and the William, 5,100 square feet. “2013 was a very, very good year for us and we plan to do even better next year,” Orosz said.

Park Square Homes Expands Purchasing Staff

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Park Square Homes has named Lisa Hall and Arlene Lora as purchasing agents, and Cynthia Canar purchasing administrator. Anthony Rouhana, sales and marketing coordinator at Park Square Homes, said Hall has more than 10 years of experience in purchasing. She was formerly vice president of purchasing at America’s First Home, and more recently purchasing manager at Next Step Products. Lora, who is a LEED Green Associate, holds a masters degree in construction management from Florida International University and was formerly chief estimator at Twenty Two Group in Miami. She has more than 10 years of experience in the construction industry. Canar with 10 years of experience in the construction industry, was formerly a CAD technician developing architectural design concepts into working construction drawings and assisted in construction of model homes.

WINNING IDENTITY TO RELEASE NEWEST SOFTWARE FOR GOLF TEACHERS, COACHES AT 2014 PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW

Orlando, Fla. --- Winning Identity, which develops industry leading business solutions for golf professionals, will release the newest version of their software at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando Jan. 21-24. Simon McInnis, vice president of sales at Winning Identity, said the Winning Identity program is designed to help golf professionals grow and manage their businesses. “Winning Identity is the most comprehensive web-based program on the market today,” McInnis said. “Winning Identity provides tools to help golf coaches maintain and nurture long term relationships with their clients,” he said. Winning Identity users can provide live online lessons for their clients, McInnis said. A new Mobile Swing Analysis Application that is part of the suite of programs can seamlessly integrate videos from the driving range directly into a player’s profile. James Leitz (top 100 Golf Instructor and top 100 Clubfitter) said “This is the best swing analysis App on the iPhone that I’ve seen yet.” Player fitness is an integral component to the Winning Identity program because of its importance to game development. Winning Identity’s latest version includes an improved workout builder as well as easy to access player assessments which helps players and coaches develop a complete understanding of cause and effect in a player’s golf swing. Golf and fitness professionals are invited to visit Booth 593 at the PGA Show to learn how Winning Identity can help streamline the teaching and coaching processes. To schedule a live demo email simon@winningidentity.com. Winning Identity is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program located at the incubator site in Apopka.

NAI Realvest Negotiates Two Leases totaling 12,160 Square Feet of Industrial space at Monroe CommerCenter South

ORLANDO, Fla. – NAI Realvest recently completed two lease agreements, a renewal and a new lease, totaling 12,160 square feet at Monroe CommerCenter South in Sanford. NAI Realvest Principal Michael Heidrich represented Landlord Monroe North SPE, LLC in negotiating both transactions. The tenant Aramark Refreshment Services LLC of Philadelphia renewed its lease of 10,000 square feet at 4186 Incubator Court in the CommerCenter. The new tenant, B&B Countertop Restoration LLC of Sanford, leased suite 1017 with 2,160 square feet at 4295 Church Street.

Ashton Woods Homes names new sales counselor for the Orlando area

ORLANDO, Fla. — Ashton Woods Homes has appointed Cory Charles a sales counselor in the Orlando region. Michael Roche, vice president of sales for Ashton Woods Homes said Charles, a graduate of International Academy of Design & Technology, has four years of sales experience.

Hendricks-Berkadia and Dowd Properties negotiates $10,000-per-acre price in sale of 357-acre Lake Marion PUD Site in Haines City

ORLANDO, Fla. --- Hendricks-Berkadia, which ranks as one of the nation’s leading multi-family investment banking and research companies, and Dowd Properties recently negotiated a $10,000-per-acre sale price for the 357 acre Lake Marion PUD development site, located five miles east of U.S. 27 on C.R. 544 and Kokomo Road in Haines City. Cole Whitaker, partner with Hendricks-Berkadia, negotiated the sale along with Jim Dowd of Dowd Properties, Inc. based in Celebration. Hendricks-Berkadia and Dowd Properties represented the seller, Real Property Holding Polk County Florida, LLC. Nola Land Company, Inc. paid $3,575,800 to acquire the site.

Power Promise Organization Canned Food Drive Will Distribute To Families at Five Elementary Schools

ORLANDO, Fla. --- The Power Promise Organization, dedicated to empowering youth and communities through prevention programs in the Central Florida community, has been collecting canned foods to distribute to families at five local elementary schools. Ursula James, Vice President and Program Director at the Power Promise Organization, said a canned food drive spearheaded by Power Promise has provided a way for people in the Central Florida community to give away dinners this holiday season. “The theme of the canned food drive is “Power Promise Deck the Halls Canned Food Drive Give-a-Way,” James added. The Power Promise Organization will distribute canned foods at Tildenville Elementary, Palmetto Elementary, Winegard Elementary, Lake Weston Elementary, Ridgewood Park Elementary. The Power Promise Organization’s primary vision is to serve as a resource to schools and communities in decreasing the number of teens involved in the juvenile justice system. They advocate for the fostering of system justice, fair policy practices and other beneficial actions that propel youth to realize their full potential. Since 2008, the Power Promise Organization has served over 1,000 youth, over 300 parents, and over 100 law enforcement officers. Power Promise is a client company of the UCF Business Incubation Program in Winter Springs.

Isabella’s Bella Cucina Italian Sauces Now Available at The Meat House in Winter Park

WINTER PARK, Fla. --- Isabella’s Bella Cucina, the Orlando-based caterer that provides entertaining cooking demonstrations for corporate events and team-building, has launched a fresh new venture---fresh organic Italian signature sauces for home cooking. Founder and CEO Isabella Morgia di Vicari---Chef Isabella---said she began preparing her organic signature sauces for retail sale two years ago and plans to market them nationwide in specialty supermarkets. The Meat House, located at 699 N. Orange Ave. in Winter Park’s foodie district, has signed on as the first retailer to offer Isabella’s Bella Cucina sauces. “We are very excited,” Chef Isabella said. “We want to make genuine Italian organic sauces available to a wider market because they are fabulous and will enhance any meal and take it to another level with very little effort, ” she said. Four Signature sauces are now available---Pesto, Bruschetta, Marinara Sauce and Caponata di Catagna, her Nonna’s recipe of eggplant, red peppers, capers and basil with readily available herbs and spices. All four sauces are gluten free, heart-healthy, and made from fresh certified organic ingredients using only extra virgin olive oil---no transfats. Only one of the sauces---Chef Isabella’s own Caponata di Catagna---uses added sugar, but it’s only one teaspoon per 12-ounce jar. “Sauces are an integral part of Italian cuisine, and they are what mama is always cooking in the kitchen in Italian movies,” Chef Isabella said. “Our organic Italian sauces have delighted thousands of people at our events and always we hear people tell us we should make them available for sale,” Isabella said. The preparation of sauces is a specialty that takes years to master, Chef Isabella said. “The fresh ingredients are key, the combinations of the right herbs and spices produce a wonderful taste sensation and that’s how you show ‘amore’ to your family. Give them the best, they’re worth it,” Chef Isabella said. Isabella’s Bella Cucina is a client company of the University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program.